Base will decouple from OP Stack while Moonwell lost $1.78M due to AI-written code error on cbETH pricing.
Base has announced plans to separate from the OP Stack codebase while remaining an OP Enterprise customer.
At the same time, Moonwell suffered a $1.78 million exploit linked to AI-generated smart contract code.
These events have raised new questions about Layer 2 governance and AI use in DeFi development.
Base Moves Toward OP Stack Independence
According to Base’s engineering team blog, the network will integrate core components into its own unified codebase.
Node operators will follow Base release versions instead of Optimism versions. The change will take place over the coming months.
Base stated that upgrades will increase from three to six times per year. The roadmap also includes a shift from Optimistic Proofs to TEE and ZK Proofs in future hard forks.
Weekly Project Updates: Base Breaks Away from the Optimism Superchain, Moonwell Hacked Due to AI-Generated Code Vulnerabilities, ether fi Migrates Cash to Optimism, Jupiter DAO Votes on Airdrop Cancellation, Uniswap Proposes Protocol Fee Expansion and More https://t.co/EjcyYZJO77 pic.twitter.com/EUfiteYYH1
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) February 22, 2026
The network will maintain Stage 1 Rollup status. Base also plans to add independent signers to its Security Council.
The move comes as Base remains the highest revenue Layer 2 on the OP Stack. After independence, sequencer revenue sharing terms may change.
While Base will decouple from the OP Stack, it will continue to cooperate with Optimism.
The company confirmed it will operate as an OP Enterprise customer. This approach allows technical independence while keeping commercial ties.
Moonwell Hack Linked to AI Generated Code Error
Smart contract auditor pashov reported that Claude Opus 4.6 wrote vulnerable Solidity code. The code error led to an exploit on Moonwell’s cbETH Core Market on Base.
The attacker manipulated a price feed formula. The cbETH price was incorrectly set at $1.12 instead of about $2,200.
This pricing error enabled the exploit and led to losses of about $1.78 million.
The pull request showed Claude as a co-author. Yu Xian, founder of SlowMist, said the incident involved a low-level oracle formula mistake.
Moonwell later confirmed the event and proposed a recovery plan. The proposal was posted on its governance forum.
The recovery plan includes partial repayment from the Moonwell Apollo Treasury. It also includes ongoing repayment through protocol revenue.
In addition, MFAM holders and stakers may receive stkWELL at a 1:1.5 ratio. The case has drawn attention to AI-assisted coding in DeFi.
It also comes as Base prepares to separate from the OP Stack, adding focus on code control and review standards.
Related Reading: OpenAI Drops EVMbench After Claude Vibe Code Disaster
Broader Market Shifts Across DeFi and Layer 2
ether.fi announced plans to migrate its crypto debit card product Cash to Optimism OP Mainnet. The migration covers over 70,000 active cards and 300,000 accounts.
The total value locked exceeds $160 million. The company stated that user funds will remain secure during the migration.
Existing services will continue without interruption. The move marks a long term cooperation with the Optimism Superchain ecosystem.
Uniswap has launched a proposal to expand protocol fees. The plan would enable fees for all remaining v3 pools on mainnet.
It would also activate fees for v2 and v3 across eight new chains. Other projects are facing pressure. ZeroLend announced a gradual shutdown after three years of operation.
Polynomial also ceased operations and canceled its planned 2026 token generation event.
Revenue data also shows strong performance in some sectors. Hyperliquid reported $832.9 million in last twelve months revenue.
Meanwhile, xStocks trading volume has surpassed $25 billion since launch. These events show rapid change across Layer 2 networks and DeFi platforms.
Base’s split from the OP Stack and the Moonwell AI code incident mark a turning point in governance and development practices.
